Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ Irish Film Board Strategic Plan 2016 — 2020 — Building on Success 1 Contents — Executive Summary 03 Foreword from the Chairperson 04 Introduction and Message from the Chief Executive 05 Who We Are and What We Do 07 Strategic Context 09 Listening to our Stakeholders 11 Mission 12 Vision and Values 13 Key Challenges 14 Strategic Objectives 15 Measuring Our Success 34 Making it Happen 35 2 01 Executive Summary — Welcome to the Bord Scannán na hÉireann / Key Challenges Strategic Objectives Irish Film Board (IFB) Five-Year Strategy, 8 Academy Award covering the period 2016 to 2020. We — Positioning the sector as a strategically As part of this strategy, we have identified prepared this strategy after extensive important contributor to the cultural core strategic objectives which, when taken consultation with stakeholders in Irish film and economic life of the country as a whole, will strengthen the IFB and help and the screen content production sector as us build on the industry’s success: Nominations for well as detailed contributions from our staff. — Identifying, nurturing and developing It sets out our mission statement and vision, creative talent and building a film Vision for 2020 as well as emphasising the core values culture in Ireland 1. Vision and Leadership which we hold strongly. 2. Gender Equality and Diversity IFB-Supported Films — Embracing diversity and gender 3. Building Audiences Building on Success equality in all its forms and ensuring the participation and representation of the Building on our Core Strengths In 2015 and 2016, we witnessed the most full range of diverse voices in Ireland 4. Development and Support of Creative in 2015/16 extraordinary success of Irish film, television Screen Content Production and animation. IFB-supported films received — Strengthening the links between 5. Development of Talent and Skills eight Academy Award® nominations (with creative vision, quality of work and 6. Inward Production and Investment a total of ten nominations for Irish films audience engagement to achieve and filmmakers), which is an extraordinary critical and commercial success for Strong Foundations achievement. The IFB-supported filmThe Irish screen content 7. Increased Investment in the IFB Lobster won the Jury Prize at the Cannes 8. Partnerships for Screen Production Room Film Festival, and Room, also supported by — Restoring IFB funding levels to enable 9. Organisational Effectiveness the IFB, won the prestigious People’s Choice us to fulfil our remit and the strong Award at the Toronto International Film ambition of Irish filmmakers We have set out an implementation plan to 4 Academy Award® Nominations 2016 Festival. In 2015/16 Irish film has taken over execute the various actions developed in Best Film, Best Director, Leading Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay $140 million at the worldwide box office and — Improving the local landscape by way this strategy. has generated global sales. of partnerships with state agencies, Academy Award® Winner broadcasters and content distributors Leading Actress This achievement is the result of investment and support provided by the IFB over many — Strengthening the position of Irish film, years and proves that in order to achieve television and animation in the rapidly national and international recognition it is shifting international marketplace Brooklyn vital to invest (and continue to invest) in home-grown talent. — Ensuring we have the right skills and training facilities to allow us to enable 3 Academy Award® Nominations 2016 Carpe Diem – Seize the Day continuous industry growth Best Film, Leading Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay Irish film and screen content has achieved — Ensuring we have the infrastructure to phenomenal worldwide success, but what support production comes next? Ireland has a new, improved and extremely competitive tax incentive for — Ensuring Ireland is competitive Song of the Sea production activity in place, but how do we in terms of the international maximise the benefits of this? We believe that landscape for screen production Academy Award® Nomination 2015 now is the time to seize the opportunity that Best Animated Feature this success presents to Ireland, to scale the industry to the next level. And we believe that the IFB is the agency to direct and oversee this growth. 02 03 Foreword from the Chairperson Introduction and Message — from the Chief Executive — I am delighted to present this Strategic Plan production, the development of talent and The Board of the IFB is excited by these The remit of the IFB is as the development Irish films need to be addressed, as do the I would like to take this opportunity to thank for the IFB, covering the period 2016 to 2020. skills and inward production and investment. challenges, and in many ways this Strategic agency to promote creative talent working in limitations on resources devoted by those the IFB Board for their vision in delivering this Key to this will be the funding of, and Plan provides a public statement of intent film, television and animation. Our aim is to public-service broadcasters to TV drama Five-Year Strategy and for their support to Irish film, television and animation has been support for, creative talent development and regarding the work we will be doing over the develop a sustainable industry for filmmaking (including children’s TV drama) and TV our staff over recent years. I would also like enjoying tremendous success in recent times, organisational arrangements to support this. next five years. Further work will be carried in Ireland. Our purpose is to support the animation. Computer games are also a major to thank my hardworking colleagues within and it is the intention of the IFB to help build out by the Board and by the IFB Executive highest quality in creative filmmaking and opportunity not only for Irish technology the IFB for their constant commitment and on these achievements. The IFB develops The third pillar will focus on a Strong team to bring the strategy to life, including an our ambition is to see this quality recognised but also Irish creativity and storytelling. The dedication to our work. Finally, I want to and funds a range of projects — primarily Foundation for the IFB in order to deliver on annual business plan, and we will be reporting by Irish and international audiences. This limitations on IFB resources (as well as those express my appreciation of the dedication feature films, feature documentaries and TV our priorities, including increased funding for annually on our success in achieving the purpose and ambition have already borne on the other public service bodies) brings and commitment of all of the creative and animation. As a nation, we have great pride investment in film, television and animation, objectives set out in this Strategic Plan for fruit in the recent successes of IFB-funded into strong focus the need for leadership to technical people working on IFB-funded in the Irish and international recognition dynamic partnerships within the sector and 2016 to 2020. films. With a dynamic industry and artistic create a sustainable environment for creative films. It’s a challenging and competitive achieved by films such asRoom , Brooklyn, an effective organisation that can deliver on leadership and drive, both within the IFB storytelling on screen in Ireland, and the industry, and without them none of this Viva, Sing Street, Song of the Sea and The these priorities. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank and in the wider community of filmmakers, central role that the IFB would play in this. would be possible. Thank you again. Queen of Ireland – and in the quality of Irish our CEO, James Hickey, and his team of even greater success can be achieved. storytelling presented on screen. In an ideal world the IFB would support professional and committed staff at the IFB; What we do know is that Irish creative James Hickey Irish creative talent, telling stories on the Minister and officials in the Department The IFB needs to put itself on a secure footing talent in film, television and animation has Chief Executive This success has taken many years to build screen through all the forms and media that of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, as that development agency and be fully achieved spectacular success in the recent Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board and many of those directors, writers, actors, technology enables. These now include Arts and the Gaeltacht who have provided and properly resourced. This will enable us past. Irish screen writers, directors, actors, producers, animators, skilled technicians and feature films and feature documentaries great support to us, our many partner to develop the strength and depth of the designers, animators, technicians, and many others in the screen industry who are for cinema release and distribution online, organisations in the screen industry who creative talent in screen storytelling in Ireland, other creative artists for screen, have had now enjoying success have benefited from short films, TV animation, TV drama on work with us and the other public agencies including in particular new and emerging their work recognised for its quality and investment by the IFB over the last 10 to 15 broadcast television and online, interactive with whom we engage. talent as well as supporting a sustainable innovation worldwide. This creates high- years. Without our support, many of them content and computer games. To achieve career path for the creative talent already quality jobs in Ireland. It creates economic would not have been able to develop the kind this ideal and give full effect to the remit of We also remember fondly our beloved working in the sector. The goal is a vibrant and cultural value through the ownership of of careers they now enjoy. the title Screen Ireland, the IFB needs to be former Chair, Bill O’Herlihy, whose sudden future for artistic quality and excellence intellectual property which in turn generates resourced both in terms of additional funding and tragic death in 2015 was a major shock in film and screen content for Ireland and employment, exports and revenue for Ireland.